Warsaw baseball head coach Andy Manes, left, and the Tigers will take on Plymouth at Parkview Field on April 23 as part of the Parkview Baseball Series. InkFreeNews file photo by Mike Deak

By Mike Deak
InkFreeNews

FORT WAYNE – Before the TinCaps begins its season on May 4, Parkview Field is set to host a record number of high school and college baseball games. From April 2-29, the downtown Fort Wayne ballpark will welcome 46 different schools for a total of 29 games.

“The amateur baseball talent around the Fort Wayne area is truly better than ever,” said TinCaps President Mike Nutter. “After missing out on last season, we’re so happy to give local kids the chance to play on the same field that’s produced MLB stars like Fernando Tatis Jr. These games will also to be helpful to our staff as we ramp up to the TinCaps season.”

Since opening in 2009, Parkview Field has hosted amateur games nearly every year, though the games scheduled for 2020 were canceled due to the pandemic.

The High School and College Baseball Series at Parkview Field starts on April 2 with Purdue Fort Wayne taking on Northern Kentucky in a Horizon League series. Among the high school games slated to take place is a Northern Lakes Conference matchup between Warsaw and Plymouth on Friday, April 23. The first pitch is slated for approximately 7 p.m., the second game of a two-game bill featuring Fort Wayne Canterbury and Fort Wayne Luers, which is set to begin at 4:30 p.m.

The Warsaw game will serve as the Tigers’ home contest against the Pilgrims in the NLC round robin.

Grace College is also on the checklist, their doubleheader against Indiana Tech slated for Wednesday, April 14. The first game will start at 4 p.m.

Among the near area games of note at Parkview include Prairie Heights versus Lakeland on April 13 at 7 p.m., West Noble versus Garrett on April 17, a 1 p.m. start, Manchester versus Churubusco on April 24, a 10:30 a.m. start followed by Whitko and Angola at 1 p.m., and Columbia City versus Bellmont on April 27, a 7 p.m. start.

Tickets ($6) go on sale March 24 at ParkviewField.com. The Parkview Field Ticket Office also will be open for ticket purchases beginning one hour prior to each day’s first pitch. All transactions must be completed by debit or credit card (no cash). The TinCaps plan to utilize a special seating chart to account for physical distancing between pods of fans. Ballpark concessions will be available as well (no outside food or drink is permitted.)

The TinCaps begin their 120-game season on May 4 at Parkview Field against the West Michigan Whitecaps. Opening Day will mark the team’s first game since Labor Day 2019, and be the franchise’s first ever game at the High-A level, after being promoted from Low-A. TinCaps tickets will go on sale in the coming weeks.